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Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

November 12, 2004

AUSTRALIA'S defence scientists believe they have made a significant breakthrough in developing a laser-based system to counter the threat of heat-seeking missiles targeting military and civilian aircraft.

Scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation have spent six years developing the jamming system, which uses a solid-state laser to locate an incoming missile and thwart its sensors with laser radiation, causing it to veer away from its target.

The DSTO, with defence company Tenix, is getting closer to a prototype system that will soon be offered to industry for full-scale product development.

The new system would represent a major evolution on existing missile counter-measures for military aircraft, which use flares as decoys.

The multiband laser is a lighter, more versatile system than others in development. It dispenses with the requirement for a separate lamp using a single laser beam to cover the entire infrared spectrum and defeat a variety of missiles.

"This technology, we believe, will defeat the current threat of MANPADS (man-portable air defence systems)," said DSTO laser expert David Lancaster, who is working on the new technology.

"Flares are the current solution but the laser is the next generation of aircraft self-protection technology."

Existing systems have a laser that covers a small part of the spectrum and a lamp that covers another distinct part of the spectrum.

"The problem with this is that the lamp is very large and bulky. Like a light globe, there is not a lot of directionality about it."

The immediate requirement is to protect Australian defence force aircraft but the technology could also eventually be applied to commercial aircraft.

The DSTO breakthrough comes as more of Australia's frontline military aircraft patrolling the skies over Iraq will get tougher skins and missile decoy systems in an effort to thwart attacks by insurgents.

The RAAF is looking at a type of "ballistic matting" that provides some protection against small arms fire.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...E31477,00.html

Re: Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

i was just wondering how much money in absolute and as a percentage of GDP does aus spend on this and all other research programs??

is aus capable of efficiently launching their own satellites??
i heard something about them doing research with the yanks for a scramjet capability to launch satellites way more cheaper

Re: Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

National defence spending as a % of GDP [2001]

United States 3.2%
United Kingdom 2.5%
Australia 1.9%
Canada 1.1%
Japan 1.0%
NATO Average 2.1%
Sweden 1.9%

Source:The Military Balance 2002â€“03, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Oxford University Press, 2002

There are a couple of scramjet programs in Australia. One involves a Queensland University and a U.S. research organisation.

Australia has the Woomera missile launch and test facility in South Australia which has been used for testing since WWII.

Re: Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsoulja

The Australian Scramjet progs are all partially funded by DARPA ATM. The QIT test recently performed has had DARPA as a co-sponser since inception.

Aust has launched satellites in the past, but it is cheaper to do it through other countries. eg, the Russians have surplus stocks of ICBM's which they have been using as boosters rather than waste on a decommissioning.

Re: Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

Quote:

Originally Posted by gf0012-aust

Great, now the Americans would have even more dominance over the sky and can 'liberate' any country that's filled with oil!! :D
Why Americans, not Australians? Because Australian made stuff that Americans doesn't have = something that the Americans can buy. Some that Americans has but Australians doesn't have = Australians need to wait in the museum.:rolleyes:

Re: Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

Berry, name the last time Australia asked to purchase something from the Americans and it was refused? I'm talking defence related issues only here. Cause I can't think of a single capability Australia has ever wanted from America and has been unable to acquire it...

Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

Quote:

Originally Posted by berry580

Great, now the Americans would have even more dominance over the sky and can 'liberate' any country that's filled with oil!! :D

This is getting on the verge of being a borderline flame.

But let me give you the benefit of the doubt:

1) Oil prices have gone up by 35% since 2001
2) Oil prices are set by OPEC (not the US)
3) I fail to see how anyone with half a brain continues to see how going into Iraq was to reduce the price of oil when the above processes make it impossible for any one nation (eg the US for those who have difficulty in deductive thought) to do so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by berry580

Why Americans, not Australians? Because Australian made stuff that Americans doesn't have = something that the Americans can buy. Some that Americans has but Australians doesn't have = Australians need to wait in the museum.:rolleyes:

Care to explain and legitimise this in simple english before I delete it as a flame?

Re: Aussie Laser System to thwart missiles

Remember those Flash Gordon movies we watched when we were younger?
It's happening already! :D